SEOUL - MEDIA REACTION

UNCLAS SEOUL 000931 SIPDIS E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: PREL PGOV MARR ECON KPAO KMDR KS US SUBJECT: SEOUL - MEDIA REACTION East Asia and Pacific: DPRK -------------- "Cool Heads Vital in Facing the North" Senior Columnist Kim Young-hie opined in right-of-center JoongAng Ilbo (06/12): "International society's sanctions on North Korea will operate fairly well in general. Dangers arise only when the sanctions and the ROK's hard-line stance anger North Korea to the extent that it explodes. In that case, the ROK will be the first outlet for the North's rage. ... We need to restrain ourselves from using provocative words unless it is absolutely necessary. Cooling periods and explicit incentives are vital, not for the grand goals of reunification or peace in Northeast Asia, but for the urgent objective of preventing another war. ... Sanctions are tools, not goals. Sanctions against North Korea have the effect of isolating the communist state. We must not forget the paradox that as North Korea becomes more isolated, its missiles will become more numerous and sophisticated." "North Korea Should Accurately Read the UNSC's Intention in Adopting Tougher Resolution" Moderate Hankook Ilbo editorialized (06/12): "The main issue is the degree to which North Korea will resist (the UN sanctions.) North Korea has long declared that it would consider cargo inspections on the high seas to be an act of war. Observers say, however, that chances are low that sanctions would immediately lead to naval armed clashes. ... Given that the U.S., conscious of China's concerns, agreed in a compromise agreement to stop short of making the high seas inspections of North Korean ships mandatory, the U.S. is expected to avoid military action. In this regard ... the UNSC resolution seems to be more like a political message urging the North to change its attitude." "Sanctions Cannot Substitute for N. Korea Nuclear Issue Resolution" Left-leaning Hankyoreh Shinmun editorialized (06/12): "As outside pressure becomes harsher, North Korea will put greater efforts into developing nuclear weapons... This is why we should put more emphasis on creating an atmosphere conducive to getting North Korea to give up its nuclear ambitions. In particular, the U.S., which holds the key in negotiations with North Korea, should establish a framework to fundamentally resolve the nuclear issue. UN sanctions are meaningful only when they are used as the groundwork to resolve the nuclear issue." "Don't Succumb to N. Korea's Demands" Conservative Dong-a Ilbo editorialized (06/12): "If Seoul accepts Pyongyang's wage demand of $300, all ROK companies in the Kaesong Industrial Complex will be forced out. One entrepreneur has decided to withdraw from the complex because of losses and fears over employee safety. ... Seoul must reject this 'outrageous' bill from Pyongyang and make the North clearly realize that, unless the detained ROK worker is released, (South Korea) will not engage in negotiations. ... The UN Security Council is responding to North Korea's nuclear and missile provocations with a strong resolution. This is not the time to give a raise to North Korean workers ... and grant $500 million in additional rent." STEPHENS